Trenton - The New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology today awarded the nation's first public funding for research on human embryonic stem cells, approving a total of $5 million available immediately to 17 researchers at university, nonprofit institution and corporate labs in New Jersey for ground-breaking research into potential therapies for devastating and debilitating disorders.

The Commission received 71 complete applications for New Jersey's initial $5 million Stem Cell Research Grant program by the Oct. 14 deadline. Proposals were evaluated by both scientific and ethics review panels before being voted on today during a public meeting at Thomas Edison State College in Trenton.

The Commission today voted to provide up to $300,000 over two years for promising research using human embryonic stem cells (hESC), as well as mouse embryonic stem cells and so-called "adult" stem cells. The list of award recipients is attached; more information is available at www.state.nj.us/scitech

"The Commission is proud that Governor Codey gave us this opportunity to advance New Jersey's position as a leader in scientific research" said Donald L. Drakeman, chairman of the Commission.

The Commission was gratified by the diversity among grant applications, with successful research proposals addressing crucial fundamental questions about how stem cells work, how to use stem cells for treating devastating conditions such as heart disease, brain injury, spinal cord injury and autoimmune diseases and how to advance New Jersey's position as a leader in stem cell research.

The Commission today also gathered comments from technology industry representatives for the final version of a High-Tech Recovery Plan for Governor-Elect Corzine. The plan, unveiled during a Nov. 30 press conference at the State House, is based on an economic analysis prepared for the Commission by Rutgers University economists James Hughes and Joseph Seneca of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.

The report, "An Economy at Risk: The Imperatives for a Science and Technology Policy for New Jersey" reveals that New Jersey's high-technology employment has plummeted to below 1990 job levels, moving from 285,300 in 1990 to 322,600 in 2000 and then falling 14.6 percent to 275,500 in 2004.

For example, the report states, total pharmaceutical employment grew more than 40 percent nationally from 1990-2004 -- but New Jersey lost 1,700 pharma jobs (4 percent).

The High Tech Recovery Plan features near-, mid- and long-term actions designed to encourage creation of intellectual property, development of commercial products based on that intellectual property and promotion of an entrepreneurial business climate. The Commission will soon present the updated Plan to Gov.-Elect Corzine.

"We believe it is time for New Jersey to have a clear Science and Technology Policy," Dr. Drakeman said. "We are glad Governor-Elect Corzine's vision for an Edison Innovation Fund encompasses many of the steps we have outlined and we are ready to work with the new administration to carry it out."